About the Company
This is a Series A robotics startup operating at the intersection of advanced robotics and renewable energy. The company builds and deploys robotic systems that automate the most labor-intensive aspects of solar farm construction — directly addressing a critical bottleneck slowing the world's transition to clean energy. Backed by top-tier generalist and climate tech investors, the team is small, fast-moving, and deeply mission-driven.
About the Role
As the Founding Lead Recruiter, you'll be the first dedicated recruiting hire and a founding member of the people function. You'll own talent acquisition end-to-end — building processes from the ground up, partnering closely with engineering and leadership, and delivering an outstanding candidate and new-hire experience. Your work will have a direct and measurable impact on the company's ability to scale its team and, ultimately, accelerate the adoption of solar energy.
What You'll Do
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Build the talent function and recruiting infrastructure from scratch, including processes, tools, and frameworks
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Own the full recruitment lifecycle: sourcing, screening, interviewing, offer negotiation, and closing
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Partner with hiring managers across engineering, product, and leadership to understand needs and deliver timely, high-quality hires
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Source and engage candidates for highly technical roles — including embedded systems, mechanical, and software engineering
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Design and lead a standout onboarding experience for new hires
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Build and maintain a strong employer brand to attract mission-aligned talent
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Develop recruiting metrics and reporting to drive continuous improvement
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Manage and optimize ATS and other HR technologies
What We're Looking For
Required:
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5–10 years of recruiting experience, ideally in a startup environment (Series A or equivalent)
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Proven track record recruiting for hardware and/or robotics engineering roles (embedded systems, mechanical engineering, software engineering)
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Experience building or scaling a recruiting function from an early stage
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Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, and leadership
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Experience designing and leading onboarding processes for new hires
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Metrics-driven mindset with comfort using data to guide decisions
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Proficiency with ATS platforms and modern HR technologies
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Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills
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Detail-oriented and highly organized, with an ability to manage multiple open roles simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
Nice to Have:
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Passion for climate tech, renewable energy, or robotics
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Experience recruiting candidates from robotics, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing backgrounds
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Prior experience at a company that scaled from seed/Series A to later stages
Location & Work Arrangement
This role is on-site in San Leandro, California. The team works together in person and values close collaboration. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Compensation & Benefits
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Competitive salary commensurate with experience
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Significant equity compensation reflecting the founding nature of the role
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Opportunity to shape company culture and people operations from the ground up
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Direct climate impact through your work every day
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